25 Christmas Romance Novellas that are Naughty and Nice
When you’re running low on time to read during the Christmas season but are looking for a bit of holiday cheer, check out Christmas romance novellas!
If you can’t sit down and read an entire romance book this holiday, you can still read a number of happily-ever-after stories with a romantic novella.
This book list gives you many Christmas romance novellas to choose from, no matter what type of romance story you love to read!
The Christmas romance novellas in this book list are all standalone stories. They are not extended stories from books in a series, so you can easily pick any one (or all) and jump right in.
This book list also includes Christmas romance anthologies which include several novellas in one book, so you’ll actually find more than 25 stories below – what a holiday present!
So, grab a cup of mulled wine, eggnog or spiced cider and queue up one of these romance novellas. Happy reading!
MORE: If you have more time for reading, don’t miss my book list of the best Christmas romance books to read this season or my list of the new Christmas romance books releasing in 2023.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Best Christmas Romance Novellas to Read This Season
The Christmas Pact
by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
An Office Romance, Fake Relationship Christmas Romance Novella
Riley Kennedy only knew her colleague, Kennedy Riley, by name since their company emails keep getting crossed. They finally come face to face at the office holiday party and Kennedy is…hot.
Despite his good looks, he’s still a jerk and yet he’s able to convince her to accept his crazy Christmas pact. He’ll leave the Christmas party as her fake boyfriend if she’ll agree to be his date to a wedding.
As they play out their pact, things begin to feel a bit more real than fake.
Amazon | Goodreads
The Christmas Blanket
by Kandi Steiner
A Second Chance, Christmas Romance Novella.
It’s been four years since I left town but this Christmas I’m returning to Vermont to surprise my family. I never expected a blizzard to welcome me or to have my ex-husband rescue me from the side of the road.
Now we are stuck in a cabin, waiting out the storm, with nothing but time to talk and reconnect with the man I no longer recognize. The more I re-discover the man for the boy I once loved, the more I question why I ever left at all.
Amazon | Goodreads
The Matchmaker’s Mistletoe Mission
by Jaci Burton
A Matchmaking Christmas Romance Novella
Alice is stranded at the Red Moss Vineyard due to an epic snowstorm hitting Oklahoma. To pass the time, the professional matchmaker is taking on a project – to find neighboring rancher, Clay Henry the woman of his dreams.
Clay is enjoying being snowed in with the vineyard’s new houseguest but he has no interest in Alice’s matchmaking when all he wants is her.
Amazon | Goodreads
The Santa Suit
by Mary Kay Andrews
A Small Town Christmas Romance Novella with a Bit of Mystery
When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, it becomes a full-time job sorting through all the junk left in the house.
One find is an old Santa suit with a handwritten note in its pocket from a child wishing for her father to return home from the war.
Determined to solve the mystery, Ivy must engage with her new community where she might just might find more than she thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.
Amazon | Goodreads
A Perfect Holiday Fling
by Farrah Rochon
A Holiday Fling Christmas Romance Novella
Veterinarian Callie Webber is not in the holiday mood since her small hometown is either pitying her or trying to fix her up after her ex-husband left her.
Ready to leave the humiliation and move to the city, she decides to give herself a Christmas romance fling before leaving. And she’s picked out the perfect man – newly arrived Navy pilot Stefan Sutherland.
Amazon | Goodreads
Christmas Romance Novellas in a Series
The Boss Who Stole Christmas
by Jana Aston
An Office Romance Christmas Novella
Holly Winter’s boss, Nick Saint-Croix is a Scrooge. Too bad he doesn’t look like one too because then it would be easier to hate him. Even if he is hot, all she’s asking for this Christmas is a new boss.
Jana Aston’s Reindeer Falls series is not to be missed and this is the first. I loved the perfect chemistry between Holly and Nick in an apparent, enemies to lovers romance.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
If You Give a Jerk a Gingerbread
by Jana Aston
A Christmas Romance Novella Featuring a Bake Off
Ginger Winter is determined to win this year’s Great Gingerbread Bake Off and she’s not even going to let Keller James stand in her way. Even if he is a famous chef with an irresistible British accent.
This is the second installment in Aston’s Reindeer Falls series and it was delicious! I loved the back and forth between Ginger and Keller which made this Christmas romance novella all the sweeter.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
The One Night Stand Before Christmas
by Jana Aston
A Christmas Romance Novella Based on a One Night Stand
Noel Winter didn’t think she’d be texting Santa to come pick up his suit that he left on her floor but apparently that is what happens after you have one night stand with the man.
This Christmas romance novella is based on a case of mistaken identity. It’s a perfect fit with this series, wrapping up the stories about three sisters.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Elves With Benefits
by Jana Aston
An Opposites Attract Christmas Romance Novella
My name is Ryan Sheppard and I don’t care about Christmas. I’m only returning to my over-the-top Christmas-themed hometown to sell the house I inherited from my late uncle so I can get back to the city and the promotion I’m chasing at work.
Yet according to the town Christmas cop, there’s a moratorium on selling houses during December. She says it’s bad for the aesthetic. She’s also slapping an alarming number of tickets on my front door. For being in violation of holiday décor.
And I swear on Rudolph himself, one is for ‘unsportsmanlike Christmassing.’ If only this Christmas cop didn’t look like a hot red-headed elf.
This book kicks off three more novellas in the Reindeer Falls series, but these follow three brothers.
Amazon | Goodreads
One Night with a Nutcracker
by Jana Aston
An Enemies to Lovers Christmas Romance Novella
My name is Jake Sheppard and I’m ambivalent about Christmas and the Christmas-themed town I grew up in.
But when I find out my late uncle left me an old barn and acres of land, the decision to return home to build my dream golf course is an easy one.
Imagine my surprise when I arrive and find out I have a squatter. An incredibly hot squatter with a herd of goats who hates my guts and takes my eviction notice as grounds for war. Except Lexi’s version of war includes flinging her clothing at me.
Amazon | Goodreads
The Bachelor on the Shelf
by Jana Aston
A Fake Engagement Christmas Romance Novella
My name is Carter Sheppard and I actually like Christmas and my Christmas-themed hometown of Reindeer Falls. In fact, when I learn I have to return home in order to collect an inheritance—my uncle’s dog—it puts life into perspective for me.
Sure, playing professional baseball is great. But it won’t last forever and every player needs a long-term game plan. And I just found mine. Wrapped up in the feisty, bespectacled package of the town librarian.
Unfortunately, she thinks I’m a player in all aspects of the word, but I’ve got a plan to win her over. Starting with a fake engagement.
Amazon | Goodreads
My Fake Christmas Fiance
by Julie Kriss
Another Fake Engagement Christmas Romance Novella
Who knew that a company’s merger plans would force a marriage? The do-gooder may have agreed to marry the playboy by midnight on Christmas Eve, but all she’ll really agree to is a fake engagement.
They have absolutely nothing in common, so it’s just a business deal. It doesn’t matter that he’s her dream guy, right?
I absolutely loved how this book opened with emails back and forth between Wesley and Penny, which gave you a look into their true personalities and the start of a connection between two strangers.
It’s the perfect start to this series of three novellas that center around a Christmas ornament factory.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
Santa Baby Maybe
by S. Doyle
An Opposites Attract Christmas Romance Novella
Joy is the head ornament designer at the Christmas decoration company, Kane Co. As an artist, it’s her dream job but unfortunately it means also having to work with the uptight CFO, W.B. Darling.
He completely rubs her the wrong way, and is even going on blind dates to find a wife, so why are they hanging out together….and kissing?
This romance had a great storyline, perfect character development and a love story that will truly tug on your heart strings. It’s one of my most favorite books!
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
How My Brother’s Best Friend Stole Christmas
by M. O’Keefe
A Friends to Lovers Christmas Romance Novella
Sophie Kane has been in love with her brother’s best friend for years and this Christmas she’s finally going to do something about it. All dressed up for the Kane Co. holiday party, she just wants Sam to notice her.
When the power goes out, she might just get her wish but when the lights turn back on, he pushes her away. She’s now done with the former Marine, and yet he’s been hired on as her new employee and he’s not ready to let her go.
This Christmas romance novella is a great mix of friends to lovers angst with a heartfelt story that gives a real look at veteran’s PTSD. Another great novella to end the series.
Amazon | Goodreads | My Review
The Naughty, the Nice and the Nanny
by Willa Nash
A Christmas Romance Novella Between a Nanny and Billionaire
Acting as the short-term nanny for a single dad should have been an easy way to make some extra cash.
Only I’m stuck for one week in charge of a demon disguised as a seven-year-old girl whose father I crushed on in high school, billionaire Maddox Holiday.
Seven days with these two and attending the Holiday family’s annual soiree will be a nightmare. But I can do anything for a week, especially for this paycheck, even if it means wrangling the naughty, impressing the nice, and playing the nanny.
This novella kicks off a three book series by Devney Perry, writing as her alter ego Willa Nash.
Amazon | Goodreads
Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brother’s Best Friend
by Willa Nash
A Brother’s Best Friend Christmas Romance Novella
It’s not easy to have a crush on your brother’s best friend. My crush on Heath Holiday has never truly gone away until the day I started working for his construction company.
Or at least I tried to smother it until he arrived at his family’s annual Christmas party and kissed me. Now he keeps showing up at my house. With gifts.
A gold bracelet carrying three jingling bells. Two dainty jeweled earrings, each shaped as a bow. And finally, he brought himself. One brother’s best friend, asking if I can keep a secret.
Amazon | Goodreads
A Partridge and a Pregnancy
by Willa Nash
A Christmas Romance Novella with a Surprise Pregnancy
There are a lot of places I’d rather spend Christmas Eve morning than on a cold, snowy sidewalk outside someone else’s home.
Instead, I’m here, standing in front of my one-night stand’s house, working up the courage to ring the doorbell and tell him I’m pregnant.
Tobias Holiday was mine once, a long time ago. Our one-night reunion was only supposed to be a hookup before I moved to London.
Now I have to explain that I’m having his baby. Maybe I could sing it. Three French hens, two turtle doves. And a partridge and a pregnancy.
Amazon | Goodreads
Holiday Wishes
by Jill Shalvis
A Second Chance Christmas Romance Novella
Sean O’Riley is only about the hook up and he’s ready to have a good time at his older brother’s bachelor weekend.
But when he arrives at the Hartford Bed & Breakfast his plans change when he runs into Lotti – the woman he lost his virginity to a decade ago.
Despite getting her heart broken ten years ago, Lotti’s looking for a good time and reconnecting with Sean may just be the fun she’s looking for.
This is a sweet, second chance romance set during the most wonderful time of year.
Shalvis is the queen of novellas as she writes so many great ones for her romance book series as standalone reads.
Amazon | Goodreads
One Snowy Night
by Jill Shalvis
A Friends to Lovers Christmas Romance Novella
Rory is desperate to get home for Christmas and it looks like her only option is a ride with Max – the man she’s had a crush on since high school.
One snowy night stuck in a truck during a massive blizzard may just be what these two friends need to address the past and finally find their future.
This was a wonderful, friends to lovers romance with a bit of forced proximity at play. It’s short and sweet, making it a perfect Christmas romance novella.
Amazon | Goodreads
Historical Christmas Romance Novellas
Once Upon a Winter’s Eve
by Tessa Dare
A Historical Christmas Romance Novella with a Mystery
On the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, quiet Violet Winterbottom is the only person who can understand the mysterious stranger who crashes into the ballroom, collapses at her feet, speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.
She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue, but her captive would rather seduce than confess.
Amazon | Goodreads
A Kiss for Midwinter
by Courtney Milan
A Lovely Christmas Romance Novella Featuring a Doctor
Miss Lydia Charingford is always cheerful, and never more so than at Christmas time. But no matter how hard she smiles, she can’t forget the youthful mistake that could have ruined her reputation.
But the sarcastic Doctor Jonas Grantham knows her truth, and the doctor has a secret of his own. He’s in love with Lydia.
Amazon | Goodreads
Erotic Christmas Romance Novellas
Hot Holiday Nights
by Jaci Burton
A Christmas Romance Novella Set in Hawaii
Successful sports agent, Victoria Baldwin, is ready to put work aside and take a vacation for the holiday.
In Hawaii to celebrate Christmas she meets Alex, a surfer competing in a local competition who could be the perfect holiday fling. But when she meets Alex’s agent Ben, she realizes that she might just want both men.
This was one of the first erotic romance books I ever read and I loved it.
Victoria is one impressive woman working in a field dominated by men. In this Christmas romance novella, she doesn’t have to choose between two men when she can have them both!
Amazon | Goodreads
Mistress Christmas
by Lorelei James
A Christmas Romance Novella Set at a Strip Club
In a rare moment of recklessness, mild-mannered accountant Holly North lets her best friend guilt her into filling in as Mistress Christmas at Sugar Plums, a Christmas-themed strip club.
Detective Nick West is determined to discover how his friend was supposedly robbed after a lap dance at Sugar Plums. His visions of revenge vanish faster than a flying sleigh upon his first peek at Mistress Christmas.
Now he’s more than happy to oblige Holly’s Christmas wish… For a naughty secret Santa to sweep her away for a night of anonymous pleasure.
Amazon | Goodreads
Share Me
by Olivia Cunning
A Menage Christmas Romance Novella Featuring Rock Stars
After a benefit concert, Lindsey longs to spend an amazing Christmas Eve with her favorite band, Sole Regret, to thank them for their generosity.
Even though she followed their tour bus up a slick mountain pass during a blizzard, she never expected to spend an entire snowy night with two generous rock stars who love to share their gifts.
Trapped on a tour bus with her best friend, a rock band, and the bus driver, what can these naughty ladies possibly do to keep warm? Perhaps a better question is what won’t they do?
Amazon | Goodreads
Lesbian Christmas Romance Novella
Mangos and Mistletoe
by Adriana Herrera
A Delicious, Lesbian Christmas Romance Novella
Kiskeya Burgos is a pastry chef from the Dominican Republic with a lot to prove and one goal in mind: win the Holiday Baking Challenge. Kiskeya will stop at nothing to win, that is, if she can keep her eyes on the prize and off her infuriating teammate’s perfect lips.
Sully Morales, home cooking hustler, is dead set on winning the Holiday Baking Challenge.
That is if she can convince her grumpy AF baking partner that they make a great team both in and out of the kitchen before an unexpected betrayal ends their chance to attain culinary competition glory.
Amazon | Goodreads
Christmas Romance Book Novella Collections & Anthologies
Kisses and Wishes
by Willow Winters
Willow Winters put together this collection of three short stories including One Holiday Wish, a friends to lovers story, Collared for Christmas, a BDSM story, and Stolen Mistletoe Kisses.
Amazon | Goodreads
Historical Christmas Romance Book Anthology
How the Dukes Stole Christmas
This is a compilation of four historical Christmas romance novellas. From the publisher:
“Meet Me in Mayfair” by Tessa Dare
Louisa Ward needs a Christmas miracle. Unless she catches a wealthy husband at the ball tonight, the horrid, heartless Duke of Thorndale will evict her family from their beloved Mayfair home.
But when her friend begs to switch dance cards, Louisa finds herself waltzing with the enemy: the horrid, heartless–and unexpectedly handsome–Thorndale himself. Now the duke’s holding her future in his hands…and he’s not letting go.
“The Duke of Christmas Present” by Sarah MacLean
Rich and ruthless, Eben, Duke of Allryd, has no time for holidays. Holidays are for whimsy and charm–the only two things his money cannot buy. Lady Jacqueline Mosby is full of both, even now, twelve years after she left to see the world.
When Jacqueline returns for a single Christmas, Eben can’t resist the woman he never stopped loving…or the future that had once been in reach. It will take a miracle to convince her to stay…but if ever there were a time for miracles, it’s Christmas…
“Heiress Alone” by Sophie Jordan
When Annis Bannister’s family leaves her behind in the rush to escape an impending snowstorm, she finds herself stranded in the Highlands, left to fend off brigands terrorizing the countryside, robbing homes locked up for winter.
Her only hope falls on her neighbor, a surly hermit duke who unravels her with a look, then a kiss … until she fears the danger to her heart outweighs the danger of brigands and snowstorms.
“Christmas in Central Park” by Joanna Shupe
Women all over America devour Mrs. Walker’s weekly column for recipes and advice. No one knows Rose, the column’s author, can’t even boil water. When the paper’s owner, Duke Havemeyer, insists she host a Christmas party, Rose must scramble to find a husband, an empty mansion, and a cook.
But Duke is not a man easily fooled and she fears her perfect plan is failing–especially when Duke’s attentions make her feel anything but professional. To save her career will she give up her chance at love?
Amazon | Goodreads
Kissing Under the Mistletoe
by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey, and Anna Bennett
In Great Scot by Suzanne Enoch, Jane Bansil knows she will never have a fairy-tale life. But even at three-and-thirty and well past marriageable age, though, she has to admit that the architect the MacTaggerts have hired could turn even a confirmed spinster’s head.
In Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey, Isabelle Reed has no plans to ever fall in love. Certainly not with Gate, a man who doesn’t live in Dewberry Hollow.
She will fulfill her duty and help him keep his promise to have his ill grandfather back in London in time for Christmas dinner. The last thing Isabelle wants is for Gate to take her heart with him when he goes.
In My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett, Miss Eva Tiding is determined to cheer her widowed father with the perfect Christmas gift. Even if it means breaking into the home of the rakish earl who swindled Papa out of his pocket watch and pretending to date the earl for the Christmas season.
Amazon | Goodreads
12 Rogues of Christmas
A compilation of 12 historical Christmas romance novellas (plus a bonus!) playing on the concept of the 12 Days of Christmas.
Married By Christmas – by Isabella Hargreaves
A Partridge and His Family Tree – Joanne Austen Brown
Two Tempted Loves – Ebony McKenna writing as Ebony Oaten
Three French Men – Ava January
Four Calling Cards – Susanne Bellamy
Five Gold Flings – Beverley Oakley
Six Belles Need Saving – Janis Linford
Seven Lords Proposing – Erin Grace
Eight Spinsters Singing – Catherine Bilson
Nine Years A’Yearning – Alison Stuart
Ten Shipwrecked Books – Renée Dahlia
Eleven Christmas Pipers – Pamela Hart
Twelve Drummers Coming – Heidi Wessman Kneale
Amazon | Goodreads
Paranormal Christmas Romance Book Anthologies
Hot for the Holidays
A compilation of four paranormal Christmas romance novellas.
Vampire’s Ball by Angela Knight
Kat Danilo’s childhood turned tragic when her sister become the victim of a serial killer. Years later, she gets a chance at justice when she discovers she’d the daughter of Lancelot, vampire knight of the Round Table.
But first, she’s got to convince a handsome vampire warrior that she’s worthy to gain the magical powers that are her birthright—powers that might help her find her sister’s killer. If the murderer doesn’t find her first….
Sweet Enchantment by Anya Bast
This novella provides a first taste of the world in which Anya’s new Dark Magick series is set.
A Little Night Magic by Allyson James
The town of Magellan is famous for its woo-woo activity. Naomi is known as an Unbeliever (one who doesn’t believe in Magellan’s mystical energy).
But Naomi must put disbelief aside when her Navajo lover reveals that he is a Changer, a shapeshifter, and has returned to Magellan to protect her from grave anger on Christmas Eve.
A Christmas Kiss by Lora Leigh
Amazon | Goodreads
Why Read a Romance Novella?
With so much to accomplish over the holidays, you may think that you cannot keep your romance book reading habit running in high gear, but I’m here to say that YES, you can!
The answer? Reading Christmas romance novellas!
Seriously, who ever thought up the concept of writing a short but sweet romantic novella that has all the goodness of a full-length romance novel only in less pages is my hero.
I get it.
Sometimes you just don’t have the time or the stamina to invest in an entire romance book.
Add in holiday parties, gift shopping and present wrapping, you may think that you don’t have time to escape into a romance book. BUT that’s why Christmas romance novellas will become your best friends!
Even if you have just one night or one afternoon free to sit with a book, you can easily breeze through a novella.
And when you need to sneak away from your in-laws who are visiting for the holidays, a romantic novella will provide you with the best excuse and the best escape for a few hours.
Plus, even with all the holiday goodness to experience, we all need some quiet “me time,” so make it count with these Christmas romance book novellas!
What are Romance Novellas?
Romantic novellas are short stories that are usually no longer than 40,000 words. They can range from 80-200 pages but somewhere in the mid-hundreds is a common page length.
While all romance novellas are whole, complete stories with a happy ending, holiday romance novellas can either be standalone stories or they can also be stories associated with popular romance book series featuring their most beloved characters.
Variety in Christmas Romance Novellas
Many Christmas romance novellas are contemporary romance stories, but you can also find several Christmas romance novellas in historical romance, erotic romance, LGBTQ romance and even paranormal romance as well.
This book list gives you a bit of everything, no matter which romance genre you prefer!
You can purchase Christmas novellas on their own or often times independent romance authors combine their novellas into Christmas romance anthologies giving you multiple stories from multiple authors. A great deal!
Consider this book list my holiday present to you as it saves you time by giving you all the best Christmas romance novellas worth reading. Now you don’t have to spend hours searching for your own romantic novellas to read.
They are all right above for you to choose from. You’re welcome 😊
Discover More:
- The Best Christmas Romance Books
- Best Kindle Unlimited Christmas Romance Books
- Christmas Historical Romance Novels to Read This Season
- New Christmas Romance Books Releasing in 2023
- New Christmas Romance Books Releasing in 2021
- 22 New Christmas Romance Books Releasing in 2022
- Christmas Romance Books Written by Indie Authors
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